BSA Methods for Boy Scouts vs Venturers

Some people wonder about what the main differences between the Boy Scout and Venturing programs. Aside from the obvious differences – the age difference and boys only vs. coed – looking at the methods used in the two programs offers some insights into the main differences between the program.

The methods of Scouting are the ways that Scouting’s aims of developing character, citizenship, and fitness are achieved in the Boy Scout program:

Ideals

Patrol Method

Advancement

Leadership

Outdoor Program

Adult Association

Personal Growth

Uniform

The leadership methods used in Venturing are a little different than those used in Boy Scouts:

Leadership

Group Activities

Adult Association

Recognition

The Ideals

High Adventure and Sports

Teaching Others

As you can see, some of the methods in the two programs are the same – Leadership, Adult Association, and Ideals. But the others are different. This reflects differences in the two programs. For example:

Venturing Crews are not organized into patrols, so while the patrol method is a vital part of the Boy Scout program, group activities are the focus in Venturing.

When you think about Boy Scouts, you think about the outdoor program. But a Venturing Crew might be organized around a scuba program or a basketball program, and their activites will reflect that focus. Or they might have a focus on ssrvice projects. A crew might have an outdoor focus, but that is not required.

Venturers are already in the young adult phase of their lives, so instead of the focus on personal growth, there is more of effort to use the growth which has already developed. So Venturers are encouraged to teach others.

Advancement is clearly a major part of the Boy Scout program. Everyone knows what Eagle Scout means. There is an advancement program in Venturing, but many Crews don’t really participate in advancement. Instead, there is an emphasis on recognition just by acknowledging the things Crew members do well.

Finally, a Boy Scout in uniform is easily recognizable. There is a Venturing uniform available at your local Scout shop, but your Crew might or might not use it. Crews determine their own uniforms. That might be the official BSA shirt, or it might be a Crew t-shirt, or it might even be no uniform at all.